Everything you've always wanted to know about the subjunctive from LetThemTalkTV.
Are you in a good mood? Are you in a bad mood? I hope you're in a subjunctive mood because that's what we're
going to learn today on LetThemTalkTV. Some things you have to know about the subjunctive;
it's easy;
we use it;
it's interesting
it sounds good. We're going to look at when you use it in a sentence
as well as some fixed expressions that contain the subjunctive.
It's easy, don't believe me let's have a look at the conjugation of the present subjunctive.
It's the infinitive without TO...
that's it. So take a verb like TO SPEAK the infinitive is TO SPEAK
let's conjugate it. I speak you speak he she it speak we speak they speak. Didn't I tell you
it was easy? So you'll notice that the only difference from the indicative of the verb,
that is the normal conjugation, is that there is no S in the third person. So the only change
is in the third person singular except the verb TO BE. Remember the the subjunctive is the infinitive
without TO BE. So TO BE - remove the TO you get I BE, you be he she it be we be they be. the verb
TO HAVE - remove the TO’ I have you have he she it have we have they have. So now we know how to
conjugate it in the present tense, we'll do the past subjunctive in a moment - and that's even
easier, let's see how and when we use it. We use a subjunctive to say that the thing we are talking
about could happen but it's not yet certain there is perhaps a doubt or it's hypothetical.
In English we don't use the subjunctive as much as some other languages because we already have
ways to express this mood and that is by using modal verbs such as MIGHT or MAY
or WOULD so first of all master the modal verbs and we have a video about that.
So you've done that, let's go on the subjunctive. When native speakers use a subjunctive often
they don't even know that they are using it. If you study the subjunctive in your own language
or another language you will already have a feel for it so it's going to be
pretty easy. I know I keep using the word easy don't I but stay with me you'll see i'm right.
All you need to do is learn a limited number of words and phrases that are followed by a THAT
clause and then the subjunctive and a few expressions that contain the subjunctive.
That's it! There are perhaps 20 or 30 words and phrases that might take the subjunctive.
Here is a list of some of the most common ones. So let's have a look at a few of them let's start
with SUGGEST you put the subjunctive in the clause after the word that takes the subjunctive in this
case suggest okay I suggest that you take the train remember what we said about the conjugation
so TAKE in the subjunctive is conjugated I take you take he she it take we take they take
is this you take. Is it any different from the normal indicative conjugation? No it isn't
YOU TAKE. it's the same. We only recognize it in the third
person singular so with HE. I suggest that he take the train, I suggest that she learn the grammar.
So SHE LEARN remove the S and that's it! You've got the subjunctive but what about the negative?
That's quite easy too. With the subjunctive we negate with
NOT rather than DON’T I suggest that you not go to the interview wearing jeans.
Because we are using NOT now you know that it's a subjunctive even though the pronoun is YOU
sometimes you can avoid the subjunctive. If you don't need to make it clear who you are
speaking to then use SUGGEST + verb plus ING I suggest doing some exercise. That's fine,
but who is he speaking to? We don't know. So if you need to make it clear then you need the
subjunctive. I suggest YOU, I’m talking to you, do some exercise. A common mistake ‘he suggested me
to get off the couch and do something.’ Remember we use the subject pronoun here so, so it is...
what do you think? He suggested that I get off the couch and do something very good.
Let's look at a few more common phrases that take the subjunctive. IT’S IMPORTANT
THAT. It's important that she... can you finish the sentence? it's important that she
learn a foreign language. Did you get it right? Did you leave off the S in the third person?
If you did then well done. Now try negative’ It's important that he...
it's important that he not leave before the end of the lecture. You can avoid the subjunctive
with the infinitive in this case. It's important to learn English for example but once again if you
need to specify the person we are speaking about we use the subjunctive it's important that the
candidates know English. Let's look at a couple more instances where we use the subjunctive.
RECOMMEND if the first phrase is in the past sense you still use the present subjunctive
the doctor recommended that Karen eat more vegetables the authority
recommended... for the negative…. that the students not enter the room without a mask
okay a few more phrases with the subjunctive IT IS ESSENTIAL
it is essential that she learn the subjunctive it is essential that you not miss this video
the committee REQUESTED the committee requested the president not take a holiday during the
crisis. Remember what I said about the subjunctive is the infinitive without TO so with the verb TO
BE the subjunctive is BE and it's the same for all persons all pronouns let's look at some examples;
insist we insist you be here on time. I suggest that you and Brian be at the next meeting
Avoiding the subjunctive. The present subjunctive is a little bit more common in American English
than British English but we still do use it. I'm British and I use it. However some speakers will
choose to avoid it. Sometimes you can do that in a couple of ways. You could place SHOULD before
the verb it's important that she know the truth. That's the subjunctive without the subjunctive,
it's important that she should know the truth. Second in some cases you can remove THAT
and use FOR an OBJECT pronoun and an infinitive. It's important for her to know the truth. Thirdly
some people may avoid the subjunctive altogether. For example, it's important he goes home now.
However this is unconventional and I suggest you do use a subjunctive especially in formal speech
and in writing. Now we're going to look at some common expressions that contain a subjunctive.
Let's start with a very common one. WHETHER IT BE. Whether it be. Notice the expression is ‘whether
it be’ and not ‘whether it is’ so what does it mean? it means it doesn't matter if it is X
or Y. For example I'll take an appointment whether it be during the week or the weekend
so it means it doesn't matter if it's during the week or at the weekend I want an appointment.
I've got to get to London tomorrow whether it be by train or by donkey. Whether it be is a
common phrase so do learn it. BE THAT AS IT MAY. This means it might be true but...
You say you don't have the virus, be that as it may, you should still take the test.
So that means you might not have the virus but you should still take the test .The quote by
Bigwig Systems is much cheaper than Van Liebling be that as it may i'm going to
take the Van Liebling quote. IF NEED BE which means if it's absolutely necessary.
I must release this video tomorrow. I'll work all night if need be. Which means I must release this
video tomorrow and I'll work all night if it's absolutely necessary. I will go to prison if
need be but i'm not paying this fine, no. COME WHAT MAY. Come what may means whatever happens
let's see it in a sentence. I'm going to move to the big city next summer come what may. Which
means whatever happens between now and the summer I'm definitely moving to the big city. I'll be
here for you come what may. Now let's look at the past subjunctive. This is even easier to conjugate
than the present subjunctive, if that's it even possible. The past subjunctive is the same as the
past tense except for the verb TO BE where it is WERE for all persons I were, you were, he were,
she were, it were, we were, they were. That's easy isn't it? That's why we say IF I WERE YOU
and not IF I WAS YOU some people might say if I was you but according to the grammar it's if I
were you. You might hear WERE instead of WAS after WISH I wish I were rich and in other cases we use
a subjunctive but you'll only recognize it as a past tense. I wish I won the lottery. Do not say
‘I wish I will win the lottery’ that's not correct with wish after wish we used an unreal past which
is a subjunctive. IF ONLY if only she were here. Some people would say if only she was here.
If you want a deeper understanding of the past subjunctive and what we call the unreal past then
I've already made a video on that subject. I would say that it's vital that you watch it
and tell your friend that it's essential that he or she watch it too. Check it out here.
So now you know how to use the subjunctive and if I were you I'd go out and practice it now
thank you grammarians have a beautiful day see you in the next video